Bottle spreader



July 24, 1956 L. MOGIHON BOTTLE SPREADER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 31,1952 irraa/vn 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 L. M GlHON BOTTLE SPREADER July 24, 1956Filed Dec. 51, 1952 July 24, 1956 M GIHON 2,755,611

BOTTLE SPREADER Filed Dec. 31, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 July 24, 1956 L.MCGIHON BOTTLE SPREADER 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 31, 1952 E I a; Q MIITTOP/VE July 24, 1956 L. M GIHON 2,755,611

BOTTLE SPREADER Filed Dec. 31, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 BOTTLE SPREADERLeonard McGihon, San Leandro, Calif., assignor to King Sales &Engineering Co., San Francisco, Calrfl, a corporation of CaliforniaApplication December 31, 1952, Serial No. 328,889

11 Claims. (Cl. 53-391) The present invention relates to the provisionof bottle separating spreading means, for example in casing machines,and is concerned more particularly with the provision of means forreceiving an array of bottles of a number to fit within a case, andmeans for separating the bottles so as to enable entry of the partitionswithin a case between the adjacent bottles.

In certain types of casing machines, it is customary to feed parallelfiles of bottles in upright position onto a casing station to form arectangular array corresponding in number to the number of bottlespacked to the case, in position to receive an inverted case with apartition assembly therein over the bottles. In such machines it isdesirable for easy entry of the bottles into the case that the bottlesbe separated by approximately the width of the partition members whichmust enter between the bottles, or at least be free to move toaccommodate these partition members in order that easy, fast casingoperation can be performed without injury to the case or to labels onthe bottles.

The present invention has for one of its objects the provision of acasing station employing a bottle separator for separating therectangular array of bottles fed thereto.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bottle spreader which isautomatic in its operation and which is positive in its separation orprovision for separation of an array of bottles.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bottle spreader at acasing station of the above type in which each row of bottles at thestation are carried through by a split support so that a bottle and caselifter can pass up the slots thus provided and lift the bottles and thecase thereon from the casing station.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription of a preferred embodiment thereof, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view showing a casing stationincorporating the bottle spreader of the instant invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 22 inFigure 1 showing an array of bottles at the casing station beforespreading thereof.

Figure 3 is a detail view taken in a plane indicated by the line 33 inFigure 2.

Figure 4 is a detail view taken in a plane indicated by the line 4-4 inFigure 2.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan view similar to Figure 1, but showing thebottle spreading element spread apart to provide the spacing between thebottles thereon.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 2, but showing the bottles spreadapart and a case inserted thereover.

Figures 7 through 11 illustrate a modified form of the invention.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary plan view showing a bottle spreaderconstructed to accommodate and work with a bottle and case liftingmeans.

Figure 8 is a sectional View taken on the line 88 in Figure 7 with thebottle spreader in closed condition.

nited States Patent 0 Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken inplanes indicated by the line 9--9 in Figure 7.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary plan view similar to Figure 7, but showingthe bottle spreader in its separated condition.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary view similar to Figure 6 also showing theseparated condition of the bottle spreader.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, there is illustrated an embodiment of theinvention including a casing station 20 to which parallel rows ofbottles are fed in upright position by a conveyer 21. The conveyer 21 isof conventional form and is trained about a driving drum 22 carried by asuitable drive shaft 23. Suitable dividing rods or partitions 24 aresupported above the conveyer 21 so that parallel rows of bottles are fedfrom the conveyer to the casing station 20. At the discharge end of theconveyer 21 there is provided a transfer plate 26 suitably supportedupon the frame 27 and carrying a support plate 28 which is alsosupported from the frame 27. The support plate 28 carries a plurality oflongitudinally extending rails 29 which extend across the transfer plate26 and are in parallel relation with the partitions or rails 24 over theconveyer 21.

A bottle supporting structure comprising a rectangular array of bottlespacers in the form of supporting and separating members or plates 31are carried by the plate 28 to provide for support of a rectangulararray of bottles or other containers in upright position. As seen inFigure 1, there are six plates 31 in each row and there are four rows sothat this particular casing station is adapted to accommodate the casingof a twenty-four bottle case. In Figure 2, six bottles 33 of a row areshown in place on one row of the plates 31 and a seventh bottle of therow is seen on the transfer plate 26. Feeding of the bottles isinterrupted in each row by a stop 34 carried by a transverse shaft 36which has a depending arm 37 at one end connected by a spring 38 to alug 39 on the frame. The spring 38 serves to resiliently urge the seriesof stops 34 to active position where they overlap the endmost bottles33. The spring 38 is of suflicient strength to hold the bottles againstthe urgency or push of the oncoming bottles on the conveyer 21. In eachrow between a pair of rails 29 the plate 28 is provided with a series ofslots 32 to receive and guide a series of angle brackets 41 dependingfrom the spreader plates 31. The depending portion of each bracket 41 isapertured to receive a longitudinal control rod 42 having a series ofcollars 43 secured thereon along its length. It will be noted that theendmost collar 43 to the left in Figure 2 is in tight engagement withthe bracket 41 being opposed by a nut 44, so that the platform orsupport plate 31 associated there with partakes of every movement of therod 42. The succeeding collars 43a, 43b, 43c, 43d and 4-3e are spacedfrom the associated angle brackets 41a, 41b, 41c, 41d and 41e byprogressive steps, each step corresponding to the desired spacing apartof the containers for entry of the partition of the case.

From the above description, it will be seen that by movement of the rod42 to the left in Figure 2, the left most angle or plate 31 will receivesix increments of movement, the next support 31a will receive fiveincrements of movement, the support plate 31b will receive fourincrements of movement, the support plate 310 three increments and soforth. The one step movement of the end plate 31c of a row provides forseparation of the end bottle 33 from the adjacent bottle on the transferplate 26.

Before operation of the rods 42 and the collars 43 to effect the spacingof the bottles, it is necessary to arrest or stop any movement of thebottles remaining under the influence of the drive of the conveyer 21which do not form part of the case array. For this purpose a transverseseries of stop pins 46 (Figures 1, 2 and 4) are provided (two inassociation with each row of bottles) engaging in aligned apertures inthe transfer plate 26. These stop pins 46 are carried by a transversebar 47 supported adjacent its ends by respective guide pins 48 whichcarry stop nuts 49; a pair of springs 51 about pins 48 urge the bar 47and the entire set of pins 46 to their withdrawn position. To operatethe stop pins 46, a pair of operating arms 50 are pivotally mounted onthe shaft 23 for the drum 22 and each arm 58 is pivotally connected at52 intermediate its ends to a depending telescopic link 53 which is of atwo-part construction capable of telescoping by yielding of its spring54. The lower end of each link 53 is pivoted at 56 to an arm 57 carriedby a transverse shaft 58. The shaft 58 carries an operating arm 59 whichis connected to a foot-operated control lever 61. The telescopic link 53provides a lost motion connection which yields after the stop pins 46have been moved to active position and the operating bar 51 thereforeengages a stop formed by a frame angle 62, while permitting continuedmovement of the operating shaft 58.

The operating shaft 58 (Figures 1 and 2) also serves to operate thetransverse array of spacing rods 42 and for this purpose carries a pairof upstanding arms 66 each having a pin 67 engaging in a slot 68 in theend of a link 69 connected to a transverse angle 70 secured to each ofthe rods 42. The slots 68 provide a lost motion in the operatingconnections between the acuator shaft 58 and the rods 42 so that thestop pins 48 can be brought up into active position as shown in Figure 6before any movement of the spacer or spreader plates 31 occurs.Continued movement of the actuator shaft 58 will move the plates 31 fromthe positions shown in Figure 2 thereof to the positions shown inFigures and 6 where the bottles will be spaced apart to receive a caseand the partition walls within the case. If a bottle for some reasonshould not move with its plate 31, space is made available so that onlyindividual shifting of the bottle need be effected to cause properspacing thereof.

After placing of a case over an array of bottles, the bottles are movedto the left from the position shown in Figure 6 spanning a gap 71 andinto a transfer plate 72 leading to a suitable feed conveyer carryingthem to a suitable case closing station. In operation the stop bars 34are moved to an inactive position by the endmost plates 31 as shown inFigure 6 to permit discharge movement of the case of bottles.

After the case of bottles has been removed, the operator releases thelink 61 and the stop pins 48 are withdrawn to allow feeding of anotherarray of bottles and the bottle supports or spreaders 33 are restoredfrom their expanded condition to their contracted condition.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 7 through 11, thebottle spreader is shown as constructed for use with a case lifting andinverting casing machine of the character shown in the copendingapplication of Anthony R. Silva, Serial No. 290,864 filed May 31, 1952,for Casing Machine, to which reference is made for parts notspecifically shown and described herein.

Referring to Figures 7, 8 and 9, in this form of the invention thecasing station is constructed for a case of twelve bottles and is madeup a series of channels 81 connected at their right ends by riveting tothe transfer plate 26 and supported in extended position therefrom. Thechannels 81 are spaced apart to provide slots for the upward passage ofa transverse series of case lifting and inverting bars 82 of thecharacter shown in said application, carried upon a rotary drive shaft83 and secured in spaced relation by tie bar and spacer means 84. Thearms 82 have corresponding sets of lift arms 82a extending oppositelytherefrom and the shaft 83 is rotated through 180 degrees each casingoperation as disclosed in said application.

Each channel 81 carries a series of spacer or spreader plates 86 belowthe separating rails 29 and carry depending angle pieces 41 apertured topass an actuating rod 42, the rod 42 carrying suitable space actuatingcollars as previously described. Each rod is individually spring urgedto its right hand position as shown in Figure 8 by a spring 88 engagingthe endmost angle bracket 41 at one end and at the opposite end engaginga shoulder 89a of a sleeve 89 secured by suitable screws to a transverselug 91 welded between the flanges of the channel 81 (Figure 9). Eachchannel is also provided with a pair of stops 92 adjustably securedthereto to determine the position of the bottles at the casing station.

In this form of the invention, a series of actuating fingers 97, one foreach rod 92, are carried by the shaft 58 and each finger 97 is normallyspaced from the end of the associated rod 42 to provide the lost motionbefore beginning actuation of rods 42 to allow upward movement of thestops 48 to active position before beginning spreading movement of theplates 86.

From the above description it will be apparent that each of the plates86 extend to either side of a spacing rail 29 so that one-half of eachplate cooperates with another half of an adjacent plate to provide asupport for the bottle 33. The operation of these spreader or spacerplates 86 is the same as that previously described in connection withthe embodiment of Figure 1, and the placing of the case over the bottlesin separated position as shown in Figures 10 and 11, is effected by theoperator. Thereafter the drive for the shaft 83 is enabled and thelifting bars 82 operate to lift the bottles with the case thereon fromthe casing station and deposit the bottles in inverted position on asuitable conveyor as disclosed in said application.

While I have shown and described certain preferred embodiments of theinvention, it will be apparent that the invention is capable ofmodification and variation from the form shown, so that its scope shouldbe limited only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In a bottle spreader for casing machines and the like, a frame, acasing station comprising bottle supporting structure including arectangular array of bottle spacers, means mounting said spacers on saidframe in parallel rows for movement longitudinally of the rows betweenan expanded position and a contracted position, dividing rails carriedby said frame and extending longitudinally between said rows to separatebottles thereon, said structure presenting in the contracted position ofsaid spacers of a row a surface constructed to support bottles duringsliding movement of bottles along said row, spreading means connected toeach row of bottle spacers, and means for operating said spreadingmeans.

2. In a bottle spreader for easing machines and the like, a frame, acasing station comprising bottle supporting structure including an arrayof bottle spacers, means mounting said spacers on said frame formovement longitudinally of the rows between a contracted position inwhich bottles thereon are in closely spaced relation and an expandedposition in which said bottles are in spaced apart relation, saidstructure presenting in the contracted position of said spacers asurface constructed to support bottles during sliding movement ofbottles along said row, and means for controlling said mounting means todetermine the expanded and contracted condition of said spacers.

3. In a bottle spreader for casing machines and the like, a frame, acasing station on said frame comprising bottle supporting structureincluding a row of bottle spacers, means mounting said spacers formovement on said frame to effect uniform spacing apart thereof, meansfor feeding a row of bottles to said spacers, bottle stop means normallydisposed in inactive position at an end of said row of spacers formovement into the path of the bottle next adjacent the row of bottles onsaid spacers,

and thereby interrupt the feeding of bottles, and means for moving saidstop means to active position to restrain said bottles on said feedmeans and for thereafter moving said bottle spacers to separate the rowof bottles on said supports.

4. In a bottle spreader for easing machines and the like, a frame, acasing station on said frame comprising bottle supporting structureincluding a row of bottle spacers movably mounted at said casingstation, means normally maintaining said spacers in contacting relationwith each other, comprising a spring urged stop finger at one end ofsaid row, means for feeding a row of bottles to said spacers at theother end of said row, bottle stop means normally disposed in engagingposition at the other end of said row of spacers for movement into thepath of a bottle on said feeding means to separate the bottles on saidspacers from the bottles under the infiuence of said feeding means, andoperating means for said row of spacers comprising an operating shafthaving a row of collars secured thereon, there being one collar for eachspacer in said row, and said collars being spaced with respect to saidspacers by differential amounts to effect an even spacing apart of saidrow of bottle spacers upon operation of said operating means, and meansfor first moving said bottle stop means to active position and forthereafter effecting operation of said operating means.

5. In a bottle spreader for casing machines and the like, a frame, acasing station on said frame comprising bottle supporting structureincluding a row of bottle spacers movably mounted at said casingstation, means normally maintaining said spacers in contacting relationwith each other, means for feeding a row of bottles to said spacers atan end of said row, bottle stop means normally disposed in engagingposition at said end of said row of spacers for movement into the pathof a bottle on said feeding means to separate the bottles on saidspacers from the bottles under the influence of said feeding means,operating means for said row of spacers comprising a row of spacingelements related to said spacers to effect an even spacing apart of saidrow of bottle spacers upon operation of said operating means, and meansfor first moving said bottle stop means to active position and forthereafter elfecting operation of said operating means.

6. In a bottle spreader for casing machines and the like, a frame, acasing station for supporting an array of bottles in position forengagement of the case thereover including rail means for separatingsaid bottles into rows and also including means engageable with saidbottles to effect movement thereof to space said bottles apartlongitudinally of said rows to receive between them the partitions of acase, and means for operating said bottle engaging means to effectmovement of said bottles to positions in which said bottles are spacedapart.

7. In a bottle spreader for casing machines and the like, a frame, acasing station on said frame comprising bottle supporting structureincluding a row of bottle spacers, said row being split and each bottlespacer being formed into spaced apart halves, a bottle lift arm mountedat said casing station for upward movement between said split spacers,and spreading means connected to said bottle spacers for effectingspacing apart thereof to determine a corresponding spacing of bottlessupported thereon, said spreading means determining a spacing apart ofthe bottles on said support structures to receive the partitions of acase inserted thereover in inverted position.

8. In a bottle spreader as recited in claim 7 in which means is providedfor feeding a row of bottles to said support structure including a rowof bottle spacers, and bottle stop means is provided for interruptingthe feed of bottles to said row prior to operation of said spreadingmeans.

9. In a bottle spreader as recited in claim 3 having a splitconstruction of each spacer whereby an opening is provided in the row ofspacers for upward movement of a lifting means to engage the bottleswith a case thereon and lift them from said support structure.

10. A bottle spreader as recited in claim 3 having a second bottle stopmeans .at the other end of said row of spacers and normally positionedin the path of movement of bottles therefrom, and means incident tooperation of said bottle spacers to effect separation thereof fordisabling said second bottle stop means.

11. In a bottle spreader for casing machines and the like, a frame, acasing station on said frame comprising a bottle supporting structureconstructed to support bottles thereon for sliding movement therealong,said structure including a row of bottle spacers, means mounting saidspacers for movement on said frame to effect uniform spacing apartthereof, means for feeding a row of bottles to said spacers at one endthereof, means on said frame for receiving bottles from the other end ofsaid row, bottle stop means normally disposed in active position at thefeed end of said row of supports for movement into the path of thebottle next adjacent the row of bottles on said support structure, andthereby interrupt the feeding of bottles, second bottle stop means atthe discharge end of said row normally positioned to interrupt the feedof bottles thereacross, and means for simultaneously moving said firstnamed stop means to active position, said second named stop means toinactive position, and also for thereafter moving said bottle spacers toseparate the row of bottles on said support structure.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,503,452 Fuller July 29, 1924

